Michael Stephens named to U.S. Under-23 camp roster

A total of 15 MLS players highlighted the 23-man roster announced on Thursday for the US Under-23 national team's training camp and showdown against Mexico on Feb. 29.

Head coach Caleb Porter’s group will take on Mexico on Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium (10 pm ET/7 pm PT, Univision), while CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying begins on March 22. The 10-day camp opens on Feb. 19.

Porter’s group is headlined by a number of MLS players with senior team experience, arguably none bigger than FC Dallas star and 2011 league MVP candidate Brek Shea. The Texas native has appeared in all nine of the US national team matches under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann since last summer.

New York Red Bulls striker Juan Agudelo also joins the team after earning 14 appearances with the senior team last year. Agudelo was the first player to come out of the US Soccer Development Academy to earn a cap with the senior national team.

Porter’s group also includes Philadelphia Union midfielder Freddy Adu, who reemerged with the national team during last summer’s Gold Cup and played a part in both US goals during the tournament final against Mexico.

Other members of the team with senior team experience include the goalkeeping duo of Bill Hamid (D.C. United) and Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), as well as Sporting Kansas City striker Teal Bunbury.